A senior Communist Party of China (CPC) official on Monday hailed China's achievements in promoting cultural and ethical progress in 2008 after some major events, including the May 12 earthquake and the Beijing Olympic Games.

In both events, China displayed its "national spirit and the spirit of the times", Li Changchun, member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Central Committee Political Bureau, told a plenary conference of the Central Commission for Guiding Ethic and Cultural Progress.

Li, who presided over the conference as the head of the commission, attributed the achievements to the staunch leadership of the CPC Central Committee with Hu Jintao as general secretary.

Li called for efforts to build up the system of socialist core values and strengthen cultural and ethical progress so as to create a sound environment for "continuing ideological emancipation, persisting in the reform and opening up, promoting scientific development, and making new victories over building a well-off society in an all-round way."

In 2009, the development of ethical and cultural progress would focus on the celebration of the 60th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, he said.

He called for efforts to deal with moral, cultural and Internet-related problems and try to help youth to grow in a healthy way.

Li said the important role of boosting cultural and ethical progress was a common responsibility for the whole society.

Present at the conference were Liu Yunshan, member of both of the Political Bureau and Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee, and Liu Yandong, a Political Bureau member and state councilor. Both are deputy chairpersons of the central commission.

(Xinhua News Agency January 13, 2009)